Chapter 27 #4
The beastie shuddered under this attack and dispersed completely, like dust motes scattering. Now I realized why Seiji had warned me back. The scattering of all that energy sent quite the backlash, enough to rock me off my feet. I had to scramble to keep my balance.
Seiji stood like a rock against it and hit it again. Then again. He said something in Japanese—I was going to have to learn this language, wasn’t I?—and this time, when he hit it, the dust motes vanished as well.
Stillness settled about us, and I didn’t dare breathe for fear of breaking it.
Davina clearly didn’t have the same issue. “Is it dead, then?”
“Not as such.” Seiji breathed hard, and I noted dew shining at his temples. “But it’s dispersed. Now is where I really shine.”
Beg pardon? What the hell more was he going to do?
There was a distinct twinkle in his eyes as he once again spread his arms to either side.
I saw the energy building again, swirling around him, only this time it was far more controlled somehow?
Even I couldn’t put my finger on why, as there was still energy whipping about him, like he stood in a dust devil, but it felt calmer.
The energy had been all sorts of colors, every shade under the sun, but the longer Seiji held his position, the more muted those colors became. Slowly, they turned almost neutral, almost invisible, like wind should be.
“Cleansing the energy,” I muttered in realization. “That’s what you meant earlier. You’re cleansing the energy so it can’t form again.”
“Affirmative. I’ll keep a little of it—I can store some—but it’s too much and too unruly to hold for long. I’ll let it disperse above ground. It’ll break the locker, too. The energy’s potent enough.”
“Should we head back up, then?”
“Quick as we can manage.” The sweat on his forehead was more pronounced. “Like I said, I can’t hold it for long.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. I dove to retrieve my dirks, then ushered him toward the tunnel, Davina scrambling to keep up with us as we jogged back out.
I kept an eye on Seiji, but jogging didn’t seem to affect his hold; rather, he seemed relieved by the pace I set.
Energy holding was harder to do than he was letting on. Which worried me.
What felt like a decade to get down here only felt like ten minutes getting back up.
When I could smell fresh air, I knew we were close.
But when I saw blessed sunlight—ah, relief.
We hit the surface, friends making happy sounds when they saw us alive and well.
I cast them a quick smile, but my focus was on Seiji.
Davina was the one to call out, “Wait, not done! Seiji’s going to use the beastie’s energy to break the locker!”
Hearing that, everyone backed up to give him space, which was likely for the best. I stopped as well, watching him take a few more steps closer to the town.
Then he paused, oriented, eyes closed as if he was sensing something.
He took ten more steps forward before stopping again.
I swear to you, he was finding the center of the locker.
Those arms came out to either side before lifting straight overhead, as if he were channeling something from on high.
The energy whipped around him, crawling upward along his forearms. Now, was it my imagination, or was he forming a giant hammer—good god, it really was a giant hammer. Like Mjolnir come to life.
Without hesitation or even a warning, Seiji slammed it straight into the ground.
I felt the shockwave even from here, bracing myself to stay standing.
It was all automatic because my attention was solely on this incredible man in front of me.
I didn’t know a blessed soul who could wield that much energy, could harvest and form it like he had.
Awe shivered along my spine and I found my mouth dry.
Some part of me said I should be terrified of this man.
He could scatter me right down to motes.
I’d never been more turned on in my life.
I hoped he wasn’t going to be too tired after this because my need for him had just reached the moon. I ached with the need to get my hands on him.
He staggered a little as he turned, a tired smile on his face. “Now I’m done.”
I lengthened my stride, hurrying to him, because I could see his knees buckling. He’d warned me he wouldn’t have any energy left after all this, and I could tell he’d undersold even that warning.
I caught up with him just as he started sinking. One arm around his waist, pulling him tight to my chest, the other catching under his thighs to keep him upright. He shook like a newborn foal. Worry washed over me.
“Luv, I think you need to lie down.”
“God, I’d kill for a nap.” Even his voice sounded tired.
“Then a nap you shall have.” I was still so horny I could barely think straight, but I shoved it down for now.
Not the moment. Instead, I used my hand on his thigh to lift him fully up into my arms. He went without protest, arms coming around my shoulders.
The trust this man had in me was enough to pull at my own heartstrings.
Brandon caught up to us, brows pressed together in a worried line. “Seiji, you okay?”
“Exhausted,” he explained with a sigh that fluttered along my skin.
“He warned us it might happen,” I told Brandon, as he really was worried. “He’ll be fine, just needs rest. You lot have the ghosts?”
“Sure, we can handle the rest. The beast is dead?”
“Aye. Davina can fill you in.” I headed for the SUV because Seiji needed his nap sooner rather than later.
There were enough Mediums up here to handle the rest. I’d not be much use to them anyway, so no harm in leaving now.
Seiji was my priority.